Rupert Goold’s First Old Vic Season: Henry V, Julie and More
A Season Built on Shakespeare, Strindberg and Sondheim
The Old Vic on The Cut, just a few minutes from Waterloo station, has a reputation for shows that feel both grand and close-up, and its new Artistic Director Rupert Goold has now revealed the first four productions of his opening season. Anyone who has queued outside the theatre on a wet evening will know how much this building means to South Bank regulars, so the announcement is worth paying attention to. The season begins in January 2027 with Shakespeare’s Henry V, directed by Goold and starring Damian Lewis, which runs until late March. From April, Rebecca Frecknall’s contemporary take on Strindberg’s Miss Julie arrives, with Milly Alcock in the title role. Summer brings Goold’s staging of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s Assassins, a Tony Award-winning musical that asks uncomfortable questions about America’s history. The season closes in late summer with Kohlhaas, a one-man show with Arinze Kene, adapted from Heinrich von Kleist’s 1810 novella. Taken together, the lineup mixes classic text, European drama and musical theatre, which makes it a strong reason for locals and visitors alike to rethink their plans for the coming year.
Who Is Taking the Stage and Why It Matters Locally
Damian Lewis, Milly Alcock and Arinze Kene are well-known names, but for residents of Lambeth and neighbouring boroughs the bigger story is what a fresh artistic direction means for the theatre’s local relationships. The Old Vic has long worked with schools, young audiences and community groups in the area, and a new director usually signals new opportunities for those partnerships. Local theatre companies, rehearsal spaces, costume makers and the cafés and pubs around Waterloo all benefit when a major house runs a full season, because productions bring cast, crew and audiences into the neighbourhood for months at a time. Rebecca Frecknall’s role as Associate Director also matters, since it keeps the theatre’s creative team rooted in London while drawing on international work, including the Amsterdam premiere of Miss Julie. For freelance actors, technicians and stage managers in south London, a season of this scale can mean steady work. For everyday Londoners, it means the Old Vic remains a dependable cultural anchor on the South Bank, not just a destination for a single night out.
What Local Theatregoers Should Do Next
If you are planning your 2027 calendar, now is a good time to mark the dates. Henry V runs from 26 January to 27 March, Miss Julie from 10 April to 29 May, Assassins from 15 June to 21 August, and Kohlhaas from 27 August to 4 September. Booking early tends to pay off for popular titles, and the Old Vic often offers concessions and schemes for younger or lower-income audiences, so check the website before you buy. If you are new to the area, consider combining a show with a wider day out. A stroll along the South Bank can take you past the National Theatre, the Southbank Centre and the Oxo Tower, and a walk across Westminster Bridge brings you within sight of London Big Ben, which makes for a memorable evening if you are catching a late performance. Those who want to get involved beyond the audience seat should keep an eye on the theatre’s community and education announcements, which tend to appear once the season is underway. Finally, watch for casting and ticketing updates over the coming months, as the Old Vic typically releases further details closer to each opening. For anyone looking for where to go in London this year, this season is a strong place to start.
Source: Old Vic announces Rupert Goold’s inaugaral season
Audiences planning to visit London this season will find Rupert Goold’s inaugural Old Vic lineup, featuring Henry V and Julie, a compelling reason to book theatre tickets early.
